Eddie Lewis emerging as reliable target for South Carolina offense
South Carolina transfer receiver Eddie Lewis has worked with his fair share of quarterbacks, eight to be exact. That tends to happen to a veteran who has transferred twice in college.
Lewis said he loved playing with each quarterback, but he admitted his ninth one might be the best he’s played with.
“Spencer (Rattler) different, man, everybody knows that,” Lewis said. “He’s a baller at the end of the day. He’s going to get the plays done and make plays when he gets a chance to — an opportunity.”
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In his first game as a Gamecock, Lewis didn’t catch a single pass. But he eventually got his chance to hook up with Rattler last Saturday.
Lewis played 22 snaps, 21 of which were in the slot. He had six catches for 89 yards and averaged 14.6 yards per catch. He had the highest PFF offensive grade amongst receivers, finishing at 87.4.
[Win a Spencer Rattler-autographed football]
However, his third catch of the game happened to be his biggest, a 46-yard reception to begin the third quarter. It was a play that kickstarted a 90-yard touchdown drive for the Gamecocks.
For Lewis, it was worth the one-game wait to make a good first impression at South Carolina.
“Anytime you get to go do what you love it’s always a great time. So I had fun,” he said. “It was great being out there with Spence, got to work with him a lot in the spring, summer as well. And we got to showcase it in my debut.”
[Win a framed print of The Taunt/D.J. Swearinger from Vista Art]
Now that he’s got his debut under his belt, Lewis is ready to keep making an impact on the field. The biggest way he feels he can be a real player in the offense is with his speed.
“That’s what the main thing was, being consistent with my speed, showing that rage off the ball. I’ve showcased that and I keep showcasing it. The goal for me is just to keep being consistent at the end of the day,” Lewis said.
But there are also other ways Lewis will be able to help the team. In a crowded receiver room, he also finds himself being South Carolina’s main punt returner. It’s a spot he played well in at Memphis, where he returned 27 punts for 255 yards and a touchdown in 2022.
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Though, in two games, Lewis hasn’t had a chance to return many punts yet. But working with special teams coordinator Pete Lembo has certainly helped elevate his game.
“Painstaking attention to detail. He’s big on details,” Lewis said. “Don’t shy away from your technique, and that’s something coach (Shane) Beamer has expressed to us all the time. Like I said, coach Lembo has expressed that in everything that he does with us.”
